Gun Control Efforts in the Wake of Jared Lee Loughner

Gun control has been a tough sell in recent years. Recent high-level court decisions have struck down restrictive gun laws. The Brady Bill, which passed in 1994 banning “Assault Weapons,” expired in 2004 and was not renewed by Congress, after a study found that it had no effect.

With Republicans in control of the House, Speaker John Boehner is unlikely to entertain any legislation curtailing gun rights. Rep. King is reporting a tremendous amount of opposition to his proposed legislation, receiving “100 calls an hour from people who think I am trying to take away their Second Amendment rights.” No Republican members of Congress have come out in favor of McCarthy’s bill to ban high-capacity clips.

Ironically, Congresswoman Giffords owns guns and filed a friend-of-the-court brief in 2008 opposing a handgun ban in Washington, D.C. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence gave her a “0” rating in gun safety efforts.

The Obama administration announced that it is studying new proposals to regulate gun sales as a result of the shootings. But the Brady Campaign rates Obama an F for leadership on gun violence, and so far Obama has not announced support for any gun control measures.

Don’t expect to see any gun control bills passed in Arizona, either. Republicans control the legislature, and Republican Governor Jan Brewer has always supported the Second Amendment. Arizona has some of the friendliest laws towards gun owners in the nation, passing a law last year allowing concealed-carry without a permit.

The shootings are tragic, but the nation finally realizes that restricting gun ownership will not stop violence. If history is any guide, more gun ownership might have averted the massacre, had those present been armed and able to shoot back.